Mississippi extends spring turkey season by three days for 2026

The Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries, and Parks announced Thursday that the state’s spring turkey season will be extended by three days in 2026. The extension is due to the season’s traditional start and end dates falling on specific days of the week this year.

Normally, the season begins on March 15, but since that date falls on a Sunday in 2026, the opener has been moved to Saturday, March 14. The season’s closing date remains May 1, which falls on a Friday this year. Under a new law, the season will now end on Sunday, May 3, providing hunters with a full weekend at the end of the season.

The department emphasized that the extension does not affect bag limits. A news release noted that the season extension applies only to season dates and does not change the limits of one adult gobbler or one gobbler with a beard at least 6 inches long per day, with a maximum of three per spring season. Hunters 15 and younger may harvest one gobbler of any age per day, with a limit of three for the season.

Additionally, MDWFP used the announcement to remind hunters of the state’s new wild turkey stamp program. Anyone 16 or older must purchase a $10 stamp for residents or a $100 stamp for non-residents before hunting. The stamp funds wildlife conservation efforts and is valid through the end of the spring season. Exemptions are in place for disabled hunters and those with lifetime sportsmen’s licenses.

Game check procedures have been updated to require submission through the MDWFP HuntFish app or other approved methods before moving harvested birds from the site. Hunters are encouraged to submit harvests promptly to assist wildlife management efforts.

Source: Original Article